Japanese Restaurant Gets Conditional Pass Despite Pest Issues

Japanese House on Mission Street received a conditional pass during its September 2nd reinspection, allowing the Japanese restaurant to continue serving customers while addressing minor pest control violations discovered by San Francisco health inspectors. The SOMA district establishment at 510 Mission Street successfully corrected all four violations found during the afternoon inspection, demonstrating the restaurant's commitment to maintaining food safety standards despite the discovery of pest activity that required immediate attention.

Inspection Details

Health inspectors conducting this inspection between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM found evidence of pest activity that needed correction but did not warrant closure. The most significant finding was a live cockroach observed at the front sales counter, along with rat droppings discovered underneath the dishwashing machine area. The restaurant's pest control records showed recent professional service by Pest R Us on August 27th, with the next scheduled treatment set for September 3rd. Inspectors required the facility to clean and sanitize all areas affected by rodent feces and cockroaches, emphasizing the importance of maintaining pest control service receipts on-site for future reviews. Additional violations corrected during the inspection included improper food thawing practices, where inspectors observed a tray of raw fish thawing at room temperature rather than using approved methods. The restaurant also addressed plumbing issues with a leak at the kitchen handwash sink and properly stored pest control chemicals that had been improperly placed in food preparation areas.

Restaurant Operations Continue

The conditional pass designation allows Japanese House to remain open while implementing the required corrections. This classification indicates that while violations were found, they were not severe enough to pose an immediate public health risk requiring closure. All four violations - one critical, two major, and one minor - were corrected on-site during the inspection. Located near Montgomery Street BART, the restaurant serves the busy downtown lunch and dinner crowd in one of San Francisco's most active business districts. The facility's ability to immediately address inspector concerns demonstrates operational flexibility and staff training in food safety protocols.

Previous Inspection History

The September 2nd visit was a reinspection following a previous inspection on August 28th that resulted in a conditional status during a follow-up visit. This pattern suggests the restaurant has been working systematically to address ongoing compliance issues while maintaining operations. The inspection history shows Japanese House has undergone multiple recent evaluations as part of the health department's follow-up process for facilities requiring additional oversight. The restaurant's cooperation with inspectors and willingness to immediately correct violations during inspections indicates management's commitment to achieving full compliance.

Health Department Response

San Francisco health inspectors emphasized the importance of maintaining regular pest control services and proper food handling procedures. The restaurant must continue working with professional pest control services and maintain documentation of all treatments for future inspections. The conditional pass allows customers to continue dining at Japanese House while the restaurant finalizes all corrections and prepares for its next routine inspection. The health department will monitor compliance through follow-up visits to ensure all pest control measures remain effective and proper food safety protocols are consistently followed.